Foreword
Under religious execution Tirumala, Tirupati,
Tiruchanur formulate into a divine unit with
approachability to lakhs of devotees as a holy grid of temples. In and around
these blissful places of worship are there number of other temples serving
devout visitors and faithful followers.
Sri Venkateswara Swami temple on Tirumala hills, Sri Govindaraja
Swami temple at Tirupati, Sri Alamel Manga temple at Tiruchanur are
the chief triple temples of this sacred area. Sri Kalyana
Venkateswara Swami temple at Srinivasa
Mangapuram, Sri Kapileswara
Swami temple in Alipiri locus and Sri Kodandaramalayam in the town are three more important and
busy temples annexed to T.T. Devasthanams.
There are modest temples in side all the capital temples and within the
compound walls of the temples. There are some more lively temples connected to
the temple city of Tirupati. And all such temples have due and respective
description and details bestowed in this book, in addition to the legendary
account and architectural construction of the main temples.
Dr. M. Rama Rao who authored this publication
of T.T.D. in 1963, having proficiency in the faculty of History, had gathered
historical, ephigraphical and inscriptional evidences
about the establishment, maintenance, support and practices of all the chief
temples in Tirupati region. The findings are aligned in a befitting, brief and
appropriate sequence to make this book a handsome one.
To put it in nutshell, this is a worthy book to be taken as a guide to
view the background and growth of temple culture developed around Vengadam,
otherwise known as Venkatachalam and its surroundings
down below the hill.
Preface
No explanation is needed for the writing of this small book after the
publication of two books, of two volumes each, entitled HISTORY OF TIRUPATI.
Dr. S. Krishnaswami Aiyyangar's
pioneer work contains much of contemporary history and many inconclusive
discussions. Sri T.T.K. Viraraghavacharya's book is
really brilliant and contains many new facts stated boldly and with
considerable authority. It includes, however, several sections relating to
temples, agamas, modes of worship etc., in too much detail. Further, neither of
the two writers mentioned above have included in their books even a brief
description of the temples in and round Tirupati. Hence this third
attempt.
This account of the temples of Tirumala,
Tirupati and Tiruchanur is based mostly upon the
inscriptions found in the temples in these places. The Puranic
sources have also been utilised wherever helpful. The history of each temple
has been traced with the aid of the inscriptions that it contains and all
important monuments have been described with particular emphasis on their
architectural features and artistic contents. The Parasaresvara
temple of Jogi-Mallavaram, which was for a long time
part of the bigger village of Tiruchanur, has been
described here fully. The same is the case with the Kapileswara
temple, Tirupati.
It is hoped that this small book gives the general reader a fairly good
idea of the temple and their importance and helps him in studying their
architecture.
I am thankful to Sri C. Anna Rao, Executive Officer, T.T. Devasthanams, for kindly suggesting to me the desirability
of writing a book of this kind and arranging for its publication. My thanks are
also due to Sri. P. U. Subrahmanyam, Superintendent,
T. T.D. Press for evincing keen interest in the printing of this book.
Contents
1. |
History of the Tirumala
Tirupati Region |
|
2. |
History of the Temples of Tirumala |
23 |
3. |
Legends about Tirumala
and Its God |
35 |
4. |
Description of the Temples of Tirumala |
45 |
5. |
Images in the Tirumala
Temple |
59 |
6. |
The Temples of Tirupati |
64 |
7. |
The Temples of Tiruchanur |
91 |
Foreword
Under religious execution Tirumala, Tirupati,
Tiruchanur formulate into a divine unit with
approachability to lakhs of devotees as a holy grid of temples. In and around
these blissful places of worship are there number of other temples serving
devout visitors and faithful followers.
Sri Venkateswara Swami temple on Tirumala hills, Sri Govindaraja
Swami temple at Tirupati, Sri Alamel Manga temple at Tiruchanur are
the chief triple temples of this sacred area. Sri Kalyana
Venkateswara Swami temple at Srinivasa
Mangapuram, Sri Kapileswara
Swami temple in Alipiri locus and Sri Kodandaramalayam in the town are three more important and
busy temples annexed to T.T. Devasthanams.
There are modest temples in side all the capital temples and within the
compound walls of the temples. There are some more lively temples connected to
the temple city of Tirupati. And all such temples have due and respective
description and details bestowed in this book, in addition to the legendary
account and architectural construction of the main temples.
Dr. M. Rama Rao who authored this publication
of T.T.D. in 1963, having proficiency in the faculty of History, had gathered
historical, ephigraphical and inscriptional evidences
about the establishment, maintenance, support and practices of all the chief
temples in Tirupati region. The findings are aligned in a befitting, brief and
appropriate sequence to make this book a handsome one.
To put it in nutshell, this is a worthy book to be taken as a guide to
view the background and growth of temple culture developed around Vengadam,
otherwise known as Venkatachalam and its surroundings
down below the hill.
Preface
No explanation is needed for the writing of this small book after the
publication of two books, of two volumes each, entitled HISTORY OF TIRUPATI.
Dr. S. Krishnaswami Aiyyangar's
pioneer work contains much of contemporary history and many inconclusive
discussions. Sri T.T.K. Viraraghavacharya's book is
really brilliant and contains many new facts stated boldly and with
considerable authority. It includes, however, several sections relating to
temples, agamas, modes of worship etc., in too much detail. Further, neither of
the two writers mentioned above have included in their books even a brief
description of the temples in and round Tirupati. Hence this third
attempt.
This account of the temples of Tirumala,
Tirupati and Tiruchanur is based mostly upon the
inscriptions found in the temples in these places. The Puranic
sources have also been utilised wherever helpful. The history of each temple
has been traced with the aid of the inscriptions that it contains and all
important monuments have been described with particular emphasis on their
architectural features and artistic contents. The Parasaresvara
temple of Jogi-Mallavaram, which was for a long time
part of the bigger village of Tiruchanur, has been
described here fully. The same is the case with the Kapileswara
temple, Tirupati.
It is hoped that this small book gives the general reader a fairly good
idea of the temple and their importance and helps him in studying their
architecture.
I am thankful to Sri C. Anna Rao, Executive Officer, T.T. Devasthanams, for kindly suggesting to me the desirability
of writing a book of this kind and arranging for its publication. My thanks are
also due to Sri. P. U. Subrahmanyam, Superintendent,
T. T.D. Press for evincing keen interest in the printing of this book.
Contents
1. |
History of the Tirumala
Tirupati Region |
|
2. |
History of the Temples of Tirumala |
23 |
3. |
Legends about Tirumala
and Its God |
35 |
4. |
Description of the Temples of Tirumala |
45 |
5. |
Images in the Tirumala
Temple |
59 |
6. |
The Temples of Tirupati |
64 |
7. |
The Temples of Tiruchanur |
91 |